I hadn't technically meant for these to go so well together (raindrops and rainbows) but I often realize (after the fact) that everything I'm painting at any given time is connected to each other.

At the moment I'm writing this, Raindrop is sitting flat on top of my workbench, and from this angle, it really looks like water rippling out away from a water drop. It's a shame paintings-lying-flat hasn't caught on in a decorative sense yet, but it will certainly look like you captured a water droplet against your wall. :o)

Somewhere was an exploration in technique for me. Whereas many pieces are heavy on jagged, sandy, waxy texture, this one is smooth and flat. It's still very thick, caused by never-ending layers of paint and varnish and glazing, but it's flat. This gives it a cool cloudy, semi-translucent effect, which really brings out the bright primary colors I wanted to showcase. It's very bright, in fact, the UV light just highlights colors already there, kind of like you turned a light on behind it or something. It really seems to glow in broad daylight too.

I'm really, REALLY happy to be getting back into the swing of things, art-wise. :o) I have two more waiting in the wings to be finished: my fuchsia sunburst that I was so excited about in December, and another one that you'll really enjoy if you're a science geek (like me.)

Here's an idea of what we've accomplished in our moving blur over the last month. It finally, truly, actually feels like home.

Iron hanging thing that we inherited from a friend:

Kitchen with sage walls. SAGE, I tell you!

Fire:

Egret!

He's my favorite, I am thrilled whenever he visits. He either likes to swoop by my sliding glass doors, or stand on a rock looking majestic. No disrespect to the ducks though. They're just funny. They battle and have duck wars. Also, there are apparently koi in the creek. I didn't think there would be, but I saw one with my own eyes. A lone, beautiful, orange and white koi fishy. There must be more, I doubt he's swimming all by himself. We plan to search for more this weekend.

Oh, and here's the view from the top of the stairs. I'm not making this up:

When we first saw the listing for this place, I thought, "Wow, that's a lot of pictures of the outside they're showing," and now here I am, standing outside on my patio every day, taking pictures of the egret.

This place is awesome. It's entirely idyllic and serene, and it's difficult sometimes to want to do anything other than pretend you're living in a retreat somewhere. It's also very inspiring, and now that I've gotten back to working on my art (!!), it's been highly motivating.

Speaking of which, I will actually have new art listed in my Etsy shop next week! :oD

Anyway, we go there because it's THE BEST, and because once you have a relationship with your sushi chefs, you are guaranteed the best meal possible.

We always get Omakase anyway, but at one point I told sushi master Jun to make something that HE thinks is really incredible, that HE would want to eat.

This was the result. I felt especially honored when he expressed that it was made extra special and with extra detail on account of me being an artist. Wow.

It was some sort of mind-blowing black cod, onion, and lotus root extravaganza, and it was almost too perfect to eat. In fact, it was so good that I felt compelled to end my meal on it. I wanted to savor the after-flavor with my sake. Yum. (I do not think it's odd to gush over good sushi.)

My apologies for the short notice on this, I have been completely immersed in moving and unpacking for weeks.

I will be at the Buena Park City Chambers on Thursday, January 8th from 6-8pm, along with a blacklight and 5 of my larger paintings. (Specifically, the ones shown above.) (Sidenote, Broken Sunrise is no longer available and if you want to see it in person, this is your last chance! I'm sending it to the East Coast next month.) If you are local, and would like to see my art in person, please stop by and say hi!

Here is the official press release for the event:

A Season of Light

Shines through Buena Park City Hall

WHAT: A Season of Light Group Exhibition

WHEN: Opening Reception ~ Thursday, January 8th, 2009 from 6pm-8pm

Exhibition runs December 17th through January 30th, 2009

WHERE: Buena Park City Hall ~ Council Chambers

6650 Beach Blvd.Buena Park, CA 90620

About the Exhibition

The City of Buena Park’s Cultural and Fine Arts Division proudly presents A Season of Light group exhibition. Seven artists from Orange and Los Angeles counties were selected by the Buena Park Fine Arts Commission and invited to exhibit work representing the theme of light and shadows. This year’s exhibiting artists include Arondi, Jeni Bate, Phil Kim, Shayla Maddox, Lori Pond, Wanda Reynolds, and John Urquiza. From painting to photography, this exhibition explores each artist’s representation of reflection and illumination.

About the Reception

The opening reception for A Season of Light will be on Thursday, January 8th from 6pm-8pm. The reception will be at the Buena Park City Hall Council Chambers located at 6650 Beach Blvd. in Buena Park. Light refreshments will be served. Council Chambers is open for public viewing Mondays-Thursdays, 7:30am-5:30pm, and Fridays, 7:30am-4:30pm. Alternate Fridays and weekends are closed. Please call ahead before visiting; viewing availability is subject to change. This exhibition will run from December 16th through January 30th.

About the Exhibiting Artist Program

The goal of the City of Buena Park’s Exhibiting Artist Program is to nurture working relationships and partnerships between artists, presenters, arts organizations, and the greater Buena Park community.